OMW
(OH. MY. WOW.)
I WON.
ME…ME…I WON.
I AM SO GRATEFUL, HUMBLED, EXCITED, AND *READY* TO GET TO WORK!
Thank you for all of your congratulations and support. Truly, it means the world.
Dear Blogosphere,
With impending electrical storms bound to wipe out the Internet as we know it (hypothetically, of course – and suggested by Mabel’s Labels as part of their BlogHer ’10 Contest; this is my entry), I have this one post to impart final words of wisdom.
I begin with a thought from Nelson Mandela:
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
Many of us in the Blogosphere have found our chance to be brilliant, talented, and fabulous through blogging. We’ve found something I often call “keyboard courage,” or the ability to voice with our hands what we may have been too shy, too uncertain, or too afraid to voice with our mouths. We are comforted in finding others who think and feel like us, or yet others who help us think about and question what we consider our immovable beliefs. The Blogosphere has provided a comparatively safe environment for many of us to reach beyond who we thought we were limited to be.
But what now? What about Life After the Internet? Will you begin to ask yourself the question again: who am I to be these things? If you are tempted to feel lost without the Blogosphere, don’t. Simply: DON’T.
Behind every blog, computer screen, and keyboard, are people just like you, waiting to connect. And connections can still be made without the internet. Eyes can meet, hands can be shaken, words – spoken words – can be exchanged, and we can still unearth new and unexpected strength within ourselves. We can still discover and express ourselves through writing; paper and pen aren’t vulnerable to electrical storms.
The world without the Internet will not end. In fact, if you realize how truly powerful you are, it can be just the beginning.
You might also enjoy these related posts from Tree, Root, and Twig:
- My Thoughts on Winning the Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ’10 Contest
- Burning Up on Re-entry
- 5 Minutes for Mom: Mother's Day Photo Contest
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Karma
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 9:13 am:
So well said. I agree on all points, although I would miss the keyboard courage aspect!
Kelly Linhares
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 9:46 am:
Very motivational post. Almost makes me want to trash my electronics and pick up a pen & paper. Almost.
Caitlin Madden
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 11:19 am:
Stacey, thank you for your entry to Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ’10 Contest. This is a fabulous reminder for us all, with or without an electrical storm on the horizon. Best of luck
Robyns Online World
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 1:37 pm:
Fabulous entry!!!!!!!!!!
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..Don’t Worry, There’s a Patch For That! =-.
Lauralee Hensley
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 11:02 pm:
I agree, there’s still life without the internet.
Jennifer (Savor)
on Apr 12th, 2010
@ 10:22 am:
Excellent post and writing
.-= Jennifer (Savor)´s last blog ..Crayons for Cancer =-.
Amber
on Apr 15th, 2010
@ 12:46 am:
This is a really lovely post. And it is so true. The ‘keyboard courage’ is lovely (and emboldening), but it is not a prerequisite to connections. Thanks for the reminder.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Bicycle Dreams =-.
Suzanne from pretty*swell
on Apr 15th, 2010
@ 8:06 am:
Can totally relate to the “keyboard courage” concept … and the power in getting out from behind the keyboard. Lovely post. Congratulations on making the top 10. Entering this contest has been such a gift — finding beautiful blogs like yours!
.-= Suzanne from pretty*swell´s last blog ..Love is… =-.
Ironic Mom
on May 1st, 2010
@ 10:21 am:
Congrats! Well deserved…you’re off to NYC!
.-= Ironic Mom´s last blog ..Retro Parenting: 5 Fun Phrases Our Parents Used =-.
Hollie
on May 1st, 2010
@ 10:22 am:
Great entry, great reminder and congrats. Have a great time!
Jessie
on May 1st, 2010
@ 11:30 am:
Great post, Congrats!!
.-= Jessie´s last blog ..Aloha Friday #40 =-.
Debby
on May 1st, 2010
@ 12:03 pm:
Congratulations, enjoy your trip!
.-= Debby´s last blog ..UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL =-.
CynthiaK
on May 1st, 2010
@ 12:48 pm:
Congratulations! That is a wonderful post and a well-deserved win. Have a fantastic time at BlogHer and we’ll expect to hear all about it!
.-= CynthiaK´s last blog ..The most meaningful guitar in the country =-.
niri
on May 1st, 2010
@ 8:47 pm:
Congratulations. Actually the quote from Nelson Mandela sealed it for me (being a SOuth African I am partial)
Niri
.-= niri´s last blog ..Timing Is Everything! =-.
Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood
on May 1st, 2010
@ 11:44 pm:
Wow, I was visiting your blog just the other day for Top Ten Tues. and
now you are the official winner of the contest!
I like your entry and I’m happy you won(if it couldn’t be me:).
Looking forward to your post on the Mabelhood blog. I love their products
and company attitude.
.-= Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood´s last blog ..Illiterate at Sixteen – A Faithful Man is Emerging =-.
Alli
on May 2nd, 2010
@ 10:28 pm:
Nice work, Stacey and congratulations!
NYC – that’ll be awesome!
.-= Alli´s last blog ..Daddy Daycare: Another Success Story =-.
Diana Lee
on May 3rd, 2010
@ 12:18 am:
Congratulations! I hope I get the chance to meet you in NYC in August.
pretty*swell » When one door closes …
on May 10th, 2010
@ 9:32 pm:
[...] They announced today that Stacey from Tree, Root, and Twig is the big winner. And if you read her beautiful essay, it’s easy to see [...]
Top Ten {Tuesday}: 10 Ways New York City Stole My Heart « Tree, Root, and Twig
on Aug 10th, 2010
@ 8:46 am:
[...] never thought I’d have the chance to explore New York City, so when I won the Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ’10 contest and knew I’d be heading to the Big Apple, I started wondering what to expect. I thought I [...]